NC gas prices hit new low for 2013, as local tourism dollars increase

Friday

Oct 11, 2013 at 4:16 PM

The average gas price in North Carolina is 20 cents cheaper than a month ago, marking the lowest price in 2013, according to AAA Carolinas.

From staff reports

The average gas price in North Carolina is 20 cents cheaper than a month ago, marking the lowest price in 2013, according to AAA Carolinas. Gas prices in the state average $3.27, compared to $3.47 a month ago and $3.72 a year ago, the organization said in a news release Friday. Since reaching a summer high of $3.56 on July 21, which was spurred by concerns over the conflict in Egypt, gas prices have been steadily falling.The last time gas was cheaper in North Carolina was on Dec. 26, 2012, when prices averaged $3.26.“Falling gas prices is great news for drivers,” David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas, said in the release. “We expect prices to continue trending downward, barring any major supply or distribution issues, such as tensions in the Middle East or a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.”It's also great news for Henderson County. “Any time we have gas prices to go down, it translates to tourism dollars,” said Beth Carden, executive director of Henderson County Travel and Tourism. “People are still traveling, but they will spend more locally if they don't have to pay higher prices for gas. They'll spend more money in stores and to go to events and things like that.”Carden said the county will take any help it can get. “We've had a really good year this far event despite the rain, which has been a really downer for many people. But our occupancy tax collections are up,” she said. “Many of the tourist businesses have indicated to me that they're doing very well — they have a lot of customers coming in. It helps me because it lets me know my marketing is working well. It's a combination of things — gas prices are only one aspect, but it hits the pocketbook.”Occupancy tax collections offer finite numbers about tourism in the county, Carden added. “For the summer, we're on a fiscal year at end of June to be up $100,000 over revenue projections from last year, and in July and August we're up almost up $40,000 for just the first two months of our fiscal year,” she said. “Also, our visitations in the visitors center are up this year. Over 20,000 people came into the visitors center over the Labor Day weekend over Apple Festival — almost double what we had last year.“If our numbers in the last couple of weeks are any indicators, we're expecting high numbers through mid-November. We have more than just leaves to offer people here in Henderson County. We have the apple industry, and people really love coming here and visiting the orchards and picking apples. We can always assist people finding places where they can find the best leaf colors.”The dramatic drop in gas prices is a result of decreased demand due to the end of the summer driving season, refineries' switch to cheaper winter fuel blends and lower crude oil prices, AAA Carolinas said. The current federal government shutdown also pressures prices downward, as furloughed workers aren't commuting to jobs, resulting in even lower gas consumption. The Carolinas and the District of Columbia are both serviced by the Colonial Pipeline, which transports refined petroleum products up the East Coast.AAA Carolinas expects that gas prices will continue to drop between now and Thanksgiving, typically the most heavily traveled four-day holiday and often a time when prices stabilize or rise slightly.Fayetteville has the state's lowest average price for a gallon of gas at $3.21; Asheville has the highest at $3.36. Charlotte averages $3.27, Greensboro/Winston-Salem averages $3.25, Raleigh/Durham averages $3.29 and Wilmington averages $3.28.The national average is $3.35, 21 cents lower than a month ago and 46 cents lower than a year ago. Missouri has the cheapest gas in the country at $3.05; South Carolina has the second-cheapest gas at $3.09.AAA Carolinas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, is a not-for-profit organization that serves more than 1.8 million members and the public with travel, automobile and insurance services while being an advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.